Bulks Of Dead Fish, Crab Found At Quake-struck Fault Area

Hundreds of dead fish, crab, along with creatures like star fishes have washed ashore the Gulf of İzmit in quake-struck northwestern province of Kocaeli.

The region is known as one of the most affected areas by the 1999 Marmara earthquake.

In Gölcük district of Kocaeli, residents raised concerns over a recent mass mortality of marine animals, having been rising in the last three days, washing ashore the Değirmendere beach where the fault line and land meet.

As the residents informed the municipality and governorate, a sea cleanup boat collected the animals for research.

"The incident could have stemmed from diversity of temparature in the aqueducts, as well as the gas outlets or pollution" said a fisherman Necati Altıntop.

Another fisherman told the instant changes in the water temperature might have caused the mass deaths.

The mass mortality of fishes and other sea animals have started 1.5 months ago, said a scuba diving trainer in the region, pointing to the pollution and detergent wastes they have located under the sea.

(Photo) - Kocaeli